1. [uncountable]a) the large-scale production of goods or of substances such as coal and steel: This type of software is widely used in industry. workers in manufacturing industryb) the people who work in industry: an agreement that will be welcomed by both sides of industry (=employers and workers)

2. [countable] businesses that produce a particular type of thing or provide a particular service: I work in the oil industry. Italy’s thriving tourist industry

3. [uncountable] formal the fact of working hard: Gould is a man of great industry.

4. [singular] an area of work which has grown too large – used to show disapproval: another book from the Shakespeare industry

an important/major industryAgriculture is still a major industry in Scotland.a thriving industry (=one that is doing very well)Software development soon became a thriving industry in the area.a growing industryTourism is a growing industry in the many parts of the developing world.a declining industry (=one that is doing badly)Coal and steel are declining industries in Britain.manufacturing industry (=industries in which goods are produced in factories)The last twenty years has seen a decline in manufacturing industry.a service industry (=businesses that provide a service, such as banking and tourism)Most of the new jobs are in service industries.heavy industry (=industries that involve the production of large goods)Shipbuilding and other heavy industry developed in the North of Britain.light industry (=industries that involve the production of small goods)Jobs in light industry are increasing.modern industryModern industry needs to be in places where there are good transport links.a traditional industry (=an industry that has been in a particular area for a long time )The shipyards, the traditional industry in the north east, had closed.the coal/car/textile etc industryThe town was very dependant on the car industry.the agricultural/fishing industryThere has been a decline in Britain’s fishing industry.the tourist/travel industryThe tourist industry earns billions of dollars per year.the leisure/entertainment industryComputer technology has revolutionized the entertainment industry.the film/music industry (=the work of producing films or music)She would really like to work in the music industry.an industry grows/expandsThe clothing industry grew rapidly during the 1960s.an industry declines (=becomes less successful)The shipping industry declined after World War II.develop an industryMore investment is needed to develop new industries such as tourism.damage an industryFinancial scandals have damaged the industry in recent years.nationalize an industry (=make it owned by the state)The rail industry was nationalized in the 1950s, with disastrous results.privatize an industry (=make it privately owned, rather than owned by the state)The water industry was privatized in the 1980s.regulate an industry (=control an industry so that it does not make unfair profits)A new agency was created to regulate the telecommunications industry.an industry leader (=one of the most successful companies in a particular industry)We are now a mature company and an industry leader.industry experts (=people who know a lot about a particular industry)Industry experts expect house prices to rise.industry analysts (=people who study a particular industry to see how it is developing)Industry analysts are expecting profits to improve in the second half of the year.a captain of industry (=someone who runs a large company and has a lot of influence)He rose to be a great captain of industry.trade and industry (=producing goods, and buying and selling them)He works for the Department of Trade and Industry.

industrynoun1. BAD: The biggest industries in Jakobsberg are Philips and IBM. GOOD: The biggest companies in Jakobsberg are Philips and IBM.

Usage Note:COMPANY · FACTORY · INDUSTRY · MILL · PLANT · WORKS Company an organization that makes or sells goods or that sells services: ‘My father works for an insurance company.’ ‘IBM is one of the biggest companies in the electronics industry.’Factory a place where goods such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, plates, toys, bicycles, sports equipments, drinks and packaged food are produced: ‘The company’s UK factory produces 500 golf trolleys a week.’Industry (1) all the people, factories, companies etc involved in a major area of production: ‘the steel industry’, the clothing industry’(2) all industries considered together as a single thing: ‘Industry has developed rapidly over the years at the expense of agriculture.’Mill (1) a place where a particular type of material is made: ‘a cotton mill’, ‘a textile mill’, a paper mill’ (2) a place where flour is made from grain: ‘a flour mill’Plant a factory or building where vehicles, engines, weapons, heavy machine, drugs or industrial chemicals are produced, where chemical processes are carried out, or where power is generated:‘Vauxhall-Opel’s UK car plants’, ‘Honda’s new engine plant at Microconcord, Swindon’, ‘a sewage plant’, ‘a wood treatment plant’. ‘ICI’s £100m plant’, ‘the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria’Works an industrial building where materials such as cement, steel, and bricks are produced, or where industrial processes are carried out: ‘The drop in car and van sales has led to redundancies in the country’s steel works.’2. BAD: Many industries have been closed because of the recession. GOOD: Many factories have been closed because of the recession. BAD: There are car industries all over the place. GOOD: There are car factories/plants all over the place.

Usage Note:See Language Note above3. BAD: They are demanding that all the nuclear industries are shut down. GOOD: They are demanding that all the nuclear plants are shut down.

Usage Note:See Language Note above4. BAD: Another thing that education has changed is the industry. GOOD: Another thing that education has changed is industry. BAD: The industry as a whole must become more environmentally friendly. GOOD: Industry as a whole must become more environmentally friendly.

Usage Note:When industry means all industries seen together as one thing, it is an uncountable noun: 'She can't decide whether she wants a career in banking or in industry.'